Electric fuel pump



July 4, 1944. c. J. LAUl-:R Erm.

ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 22, 1942 July 4 1944' c. J. LAul-:R ETAL 2,352,958

ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP Filed June 22, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented July 4, 1944 ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP Carleton J. Lauer, *Boy L. Bowers, and Kent Forsliee, Flint, Mich., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a. corporation of Delaware Application June 22, 1942, Serial No. 448,014

(ci. a-s1) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to the fuel supply system for engines such as are used on motor vehicles, on boats, aircraft and in stationary power plants. It is more particularly concerned with the delivery of fuel from the reservoir or tank to the engine. It is intended to replace a wellknown older means of delivering fuel--the engine operated suction producing pump. In this older system, the fuel flowing from the reservoir under the influence of reduced pressure, has had a tendency to vaporize under excessive heat conditions and it is one of the primary objects of the present invention to devise a fuel supply System which puts the fuel under pressure and thus avoids the disadvantages of fuel vapor-ization and vapor lock which, in the case of an engine operated pump. has interfered with the delivery of liquid fuel to the float bowl of the'carburetor.

Among other objects to be attained are substantially noiseless operation, high pumping capacity,

promptness in delivering fuel, comparatively low pump speed, an arrangement whereby faulty engine operation is avoided when liquid fuel becomes vaporized in the pipe line, an improved arrangement for freeing the fuel from foreign matter, and an improved means to insure lubrication of the motorshaft bearings in the case of an empty fuel tank.

The invention includes certain improvements over a similar fuel supply system shown and described in Patent No, 2,139,370, assigned to the assignee of this application. The purpose of these improvements is to insure a better flow of fuel to the engine, to prevent'l turbulence in the motor chamber which may retard rotation of the amature and also volatilize some of the liquid fuel, and to avoid the creation of gum in the fuel. Still further objects and advantages will be understood from the description which follows.

In the drawings which show an illustrative embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a gasoline tank of a motor vehicle showing a novel combined motor and pump in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the motor and pump assembly, the section being substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3,-3 of Fig. 2. e

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the figures, numerals ii and i3 together represent a fuel tank. Provision for drainage is marked I5.

The combined motor and pump assembly including a spacer is secured to the top member i3 of the tank. To thatv end fastening means including bolts l1 secure to the tank about an opening I9 therein a top cover 2l. Through an opening in the cover extends a delivery pipe 23. Around the pipe end is a spacing ring 25 secured tothe cover and to ring 25 is secured a fitting 21 having one or more outlets 29 to which may be connected a pipe or pipes 3l for supplying an engine or engines as the lcase may be. An

insulating sleeve 33 outside the cover and an insulating tube 35 within the cover are associ.. ated with means for supplying electric current from a terminal 31 to motor to be referred to.l

Numeral 31' ls used to mark the other terminal. Secured to the cover as by welding is a cylindrical spacer 39 having openings 4I and 4I. This spacer projects down into the tank through opening I9. Toithe lower end of the spacer 39 is welded a lower cover 40. Cover 49 has a large opening 43 and a small opening 45. The insulation tube 35 extends through the large opening and the fuel delivery tube 23 extends through the small opening. openings on the top cover 41 of the casing 49 for the electric motor. v

The top cover 41, the casing 49 and an attaching flange of the lower cover 40 of the spacer are secured together by fastening means 5|. The cover 41 is formed at its center I53 to receive a bearing 55 for the spindle 51 of the armature 59.

Some suitable retaining means 6l engages the bearing and may serve to hold in position a lubricant carrying packing. The commutator of the motor is seen at 63. The brush carrier plate is identified by numeral 65, and 61 is used to refer to a cylinder of paper or the like. At the lower end of spindle 51 is a similar bearing 69.

Here also there may be used an oil saturated packing and retainers, the latter secured to formations 1I extending upwardly from the lower integral end 13 of the casing 49. The surrounding motor field 15 is positioned by a pin 11 and coil retainers 19, 19'. Extending through the motor casing is a standpipe 3i. It is fitted into an opening 33 in the bottom wall 13 of the casing.

lIts upper end extends through an aligned open'- ing in the upper pump casing cover and into the lower end of delivery pipe 23 where a suitable seal of rubber or the like is provided at 35. A vent from standpipe 3l near the top of the motor casing is marked 91. The Ibottom wall 13 of the motor casing on its side remote from the motor is formed with a downwardly extending wall 89 to which is secured a closure 9| by fastening means 93. The chamber formed by the parts 13, 89 and 9| is the pump chamber. Through it Both are received within closure 9| carries athrust bearing $1 for the spindle. Secured to spindle 51 within the pump chamber is a pump gear $9, the cooperating gear not being shown, but being like that in the patent referred to. The outlet space of the pump chamber is marked |I and is in communication with standpipe 0 I A fuel filtering assembly including an apertured wall |03, a screen |05 and a lower cover |01 is carried by the lower end of the assembly already described and may be held to the bottom' wall of the motor casing by the fastening means 0I already referred to for attaching the closure Il. The pump delivery space |0| is in communication with a depression |09 in cover |01 which is arranged to deliver fuel to a bypass which is not illustrated but which may be none other than that' shown in our patent referred to.

)The top of the motor casing has an opening leading to the spacer. This opening is covered by a 4rescreen H3 as shown by Figs. 3

The amature is streamlined as being enveloped in a suitable synthetic plastic or fitted with a suitable smooth cover. The smooth surface so i formed prevents turbulence in the motor casing.

yassauts extends the lower end of spindle s1 and 4the The operation will be obvious. The motor operates the pump which takes fuel from the tank through screeny |05 and delivers it to the engine through pipes 0I and 23 and suitable external conduits. 'I'he fuel also flows through opening I1 and lls the motor casing. It lubricates the bearings. The use of silver in the bearings and for the coxnmutator` prevents development of gum. The streamlining of the armaturenreduces the load on the motor and prevents turbulence and volatilization of fuel. The screen at ||I serves to prevent flame propagation in the event of any combustible mixture forming in the motor chamber. The fuel may overflow the motor casing passing through the screen and returning to the tank by way of openings 4|, 4 I in the spacer.

We claim:

In a'fuel supply system, a fuel tank, an electric motor and pump combination within said tank, said combination including a casing for said motor, said casing having a top wall, a spacing sleeve attached to said casing and secured to the top of said tank, a. standpipe delivering fuel from said pump and extending through said motor casing, an extension pipe sealed to said standpipe and connected to an external fuel supply conduit, said standpipe having a vent opening g leading into the motor casing near its top, means forming an opening in the top wall of the motor casing leading to said sleeve, a fire screen in said last named opening and means forming openings in the wall of the sleeve leading to the interior of the tank.

CARLETON J. LAUER. ROY L. BOWERS. KENT FORSHEE. 

